Getting to his feet, he bowed slightly to the cleric and paladin.
"My thanks for your aid. That situation got out of hand rapidly. I am afraid that I am going to need another bath or at least a wash up." he said, looking down at his robe covered in his own blood.
He told the cleric how they had intended on visiting the tavern and learning more. Yet before they could even get in the door the thugs tried to rob them. Though he would rather explain while they walked.
"Yep. You're in the minority. I am sure there's more to find out before we jump in head first. Before we go crashing their party, I think we should do some more investigation and talk to more people. It may just save our lives. And it's late now. A nightcap and a good night's rest is what I want."
With three of the group voting to get some rest for the night, Bern's desire to go after the Redbrands right away is the minority opinion. So the group heads back to the inn. It is very late now and no one is up. Balthazar can wash up in back, but if he wants hot water he will need to build the fire and heat it himself, which will take time. Otherwise he can wash with cold water out of the well.
......<moving things along. If anyone has anything special they wanted to do during the night let me know>........
Morning comes. A late rising at that, considering the time the group finally went to bed. You come down from your rooms to find that breakfast has already been served and the worker's and tradesmen of Phandalin are already at their businesses. It is close to 10am.
As you come down to the common room, Trilena greets you with a nod and a smile and disappears into the kitchen. She returns a minute or two later with plates of steaming hot pancakes and honey, bisquits, sausages, assorted fruit and kaffe and fresh goat's milk.
"Good morning." She says. "I figured you'd be getting up a bit late so I saved breakfast for you."
"Your friend, Sildar, waited for you for a while but then left. He said he was going on ahead to the Townmaster's Hall to talk to Harbin and you could catch up with him there."
(Note: I have marked with red stars on the map the places of interest that you have heard about but have not yet visited. You may want to review the Notes Sticky for a summary refresher.)
The late night had led to a late morning. He had been worried that they would be waiting for the afternoon meal before there would be anything to eat, but the wench had surprised him. He gave her a big smile. He would be sure that her forethought was well rewarded.
He didn't waste any time or words, but began collecting food and eating.
Ryssa was normally not one to eat a large breakfast but the enticing smells which assaulted her nose as she came down stairs triggered a much stronger than normal appetite. She grinned at Bern and fixed a plate of fruit, honey and biscuits, and sausage along with kaffe with a dash of goats milk.
"I'll have to eat light the rest of the day or my hips will pay for this," she said as she sat at a table across from the ranger.
The innkeepers wife fusses over you as you sit to make sure you have what you want. "And don't you worry none about paying for this meal either. I heard what you did last night. Heck, it's all over town."
The halfling lumbers down the steps to the dining hall and saddles up near Ryssa who is filling her plate with all kinds of stuff.
"Are you kidding me? You're too good looking right now. Everyone looks in your direction, which isn't good for me when I'm traveling with you. I try to stay subtle, if you get my meaning. You glow like the sun!"
He grabs a plate and slides the food closest to him onto the plate and immediately shovels a heaping forkful into his mouth.
"So Bern. What's the plan for today? I'm thinking we do some more 'vestigating before we kill stuff. Whatcha think?"
The lean mage came down the stairs wearing his other set of clothing and looked around at his gathered comrades and the offered food. His stomach rumbled embarrassingly and he went to sit at the table with Lingo and Ryssa, setting into a large plate of hot cakes, sausages and biscuits with honey. He drank milk.
"I definitely think we need to find out what has happened. After last night if there are more Redbands, they are going to be on alert. No one should go off by themselves."
"Just toughs trying to prove how tough they are to each other, when in fact none of them were particularly tough. Unfortunately they were not smart enough to know when they were outclassed", he said with a wink and a grin.
The large dragonborn came down all teeth. For humans that might be considered a smile for him it was a showing of his hunger.
At the serving woman's words he nodded and tipped her a silver immediately. He also filled a heaping plate of steaming food Before settling down at the same table as his companions or nearby.
"How about the town hall to start," he offered around bite fulls of food.
Once you finish up your brunch, and with no other protests, you get up and stroll down the street to the Townmaster's Hall. This building has sturdy stone walls, a pitched wooden roof, and a bell tower towards the back. The board offering a reward to take care of the Orcs near Wyvern Tor is still out front.
The inside of the townmaster's hall is dominated by a large desk, with a disorganized stack of papers and ledgers on one side and a flickering oil lamp on the other. Behind the desk a very large, old man sits penning something into a notebook. Sildar is there, sitting in another chair near a small table looking over some papers. He nods in greeting as you enter, offering, "I heard you were out late last night. Thought you might get here a bit late so I went on ahead."
The old man looks up in surprise. "You startled me! My heart isn't what it was in my youth. What can I do for you?"
He was content for Ryssa to act as spokeswoman for the group. As a cleric she engendered a degree of respect that the others might not and he found her well spoken as well.
The man sits back in his chair, which creaks loudly from his weight. "I am Harbin Wester, Townmaster of Phandalin. I am not sure what you mean by 'news of the region'? We are a growing town, becoming more prosperous all the time. We do have some issues with local Orc bandits. Have you come to inquire about the reward?"
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